Vacciniina optilete

Taxonomy

Notes:

Name Status: Provisionally Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: Beccaloni G.

Physical Description

Subfamily Polyommatinae:

Blues are tiny to small butterflies of the Family Lycaenidae. Distributed worldwide, they are most diverse in Southeast Asia, tropical Africa, and northern temperate regions. Most of the nearly 50 North American species are found in the west. Adult males are predominantly blue above, due to reflected light rather than pigmentation. Some males and most females are largely brown above. Below, wings of both sexes are usually gray-white with black spots or streaks. Adults in some genera (Euphilotes, Lycaeides, Plebulina, and Icaricia) have more or less prominent orange submarginal bands on their hindwings. Most adults are found near their host plants, and they do not fly long distances, though some tropical and subtropical species undertake long migrations. Adults visit flowers for nectar. Males frequent moist sand and mud, and females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves or flowers. As caterpillars, they secrete sugary secretions that attract ants, and caterpillars of some species are raised in ant nests. Blues usually overwinter in the pupal stage.

Distribution

Habitat

Biome

Fresh water. Demersal.

Similar Species

Members of the genus Vacciniina:

There are approximately 35 species and subspecies in this genus: V. alcedo · V. baicalica · V. basireducta · V. clara · V. cordata · V. cosana · V. crassipuncta · V. cyparissus · V. daisetsuzana · V. dilutor · V. illustris · V. inornata · V. kamuikotana · V. kingana · V. kurilensis · V. medea · V. media · V. nanus · V. nemoptilete · V. nigromaculata · V. nigromaculatus · V. nigrostriata · V. noah · V. obsoleta · V. occidentissima · V. ochrostigma · V. omotoi · V. optilete (Cranberry Blue) · V. optilete yukona · V. parvipuncta · V. shonis · V. sibirica · V. subtusradiata · V. uralensis · V. virgularia

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Notes

Contributors:

• Bisby FA, Roskov YR, Orrell TM, Nicolson D, Paglinawan LE, Bailly N, Kirk PM, Bourgoin T, van Hertum J, eds (2008). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist Taxonomic Classification. CD-ROM; Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 17, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 19 providers.
• LepIndex

Data Sources:

Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 17, 2008:

• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Canadian National Collection
• of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Donald F. Hooper Butterfly collection, Canada
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Gerald Hilchie Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Lepidopterists Society Season Summaries 1973-1997
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Lyman Entomological Museum
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Norbert Kondla Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Provincial Museum of Alberta
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Royal British Columbia Museum Entomology Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Royal Ontario Museum: Entomology
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Royal Saskatchewan Museum Collection
• Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility, Spencer Entomological Museum
• The Swedish Museum of Natural History
• , Bugs
• University of Helsinki, Department of Applied Biology, Lepidopterological Society of Finland

Identifiers:

• Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 591706
• Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 16205